February

Desertification 2019

What do you think desertification is?

Learning Objectives

To explain what desertification is.

To describe why it happens.

To evaluate some possible solutions to

combat desertification.
Desertification is the turning of land, often
through physical processes and human
mismanagement into desert.
Where is desertification happening?

The Sahel is a narrow belt of semi-arid land

that extends across Africa.
 What causes desertification?
• Natural Causes
Rainfall variability and Climate Change

• Human Causes

Population Pressures

Overgrazing
Deforestation
Subsistence Farming
 How do humans make the problem
worse?
• Population is high and increasing fast.

• To increase food supplies more crops are grown

and more cattle kept leading to over-cultivation
and over-grazing.

• Yields decline and cattle are undernourished

and die.

• Demand increases for water as population

grows.

• Trees are cut down for fuel supplies.

• Less vegetation; more dry, bare soil; more wind

erosion.
Task
• Read through the sheet that explains the
causes, impacts, location and solutions to
desertification.

1. Fill in the gaps using the missing words at the

base of the sheet
2. Using the information that you have, create a
story board that explains the problem
(deforestation) and possible solutions.
 How can we solve the problem?
1. Afforestation – trees and grasses to
stabilise soil and reduce erosion.
2. Sustainable farming practices – crop
rotation, manure as fertiliser, limit grazing
of animals, bunding to reduce erosion.
3. Controlling run off when it does rain.
4. Plant drought resistant crops